Public Holidays in Jordan
Statutory public holidays in Jordan, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Jordan at a glance
Jordan’s public holidays follow the Islamic lunar calendar for religious dates, with Independence Day on 25 May the main national celebration. Because the Hijri year is shorter, religious dates move about ten days earlier annually.
Friday is the principal day of communal prayer, and the weekend runs Friday to Saturday, with many businesses closing early on Thursday.
Jordan public holidays 2026
Jordan has 14 public holidays in 2026 – the statutory days off. The table below lists those public holidays; observances and other non-statutory dates are not part of the total.
| Holiday | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan 1Thu | National |
| Isra' and Mi'raj (estimated) | Jan 16Fri | National |
| Eid al-Fitr (estimated) | Mar 20Fri | National |
| Eid al-Fitr Holiday (estimated) | Mar 21Sat | National |
| Eid al-Fitr Holiday (estimated) | Mar 22Sun | National |
| Labor Day | May 1Fri | National |
| Independence Day | May 25Mon | National |
| Day of Arafah (estimated) | May 26Tue | National |
| Eid al-Adha (estimated) | May 27Wed | National |
| Eid al-Adha Holiday (estimated) | May 28Thu | National |
| Eid al-Adha Holiday (estimated) | May 29Fri | National |
| Islamic New Year (estimated) | Jun 16Tue | National |
Showing 12 of 14 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Jordan
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Jordan.
Amman
A white-stone capital spread over seven hills, mixing Roman ruins with modern districts.
Aqaba
The only coastal city, with coral reefs, a warm winter climate and a free-trade zone.
Irbid
A university city in the fertile north, close to the Golan and Yarmouk.
Madaba
A town famed for its Byzantine mosaics, including a famous sixth-century map.
Karak
A hilltop town dominated by a vast Crusader castle above the Dead Sea highway.
Top attractions in Jordan
The places that draw most visitors to Jordan.
Petra
A Nabataean city carved into rose-red sandstone, entered through a narrow canyon.
Wadi Rum
A desert of towering sandstone inselbergs and narrow canyons, filmed as Mars.
Dead Sea
The lowest exposed point on earth, famous for floating and mineral mud.
Jerash
One of the best-preserved Roman provincial cities, with colonnaded streets and theatres.
Karak Castle
A huge Crusader fortress of vaulted halls and dark passages.
Amman Citadel
A hilltop site with Roman, Byzantine and Umayyad remains above the city.
Festivals, food and getting around Jordan
What the calendar looks like on the ground, and how to move through the country around it.
Festivals behind the holidays
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🎉
New Year's Day
Falls on Jan 1
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🎉
Al Isra' wal Miraj
Falls on Jan 15
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🎉
Ramadan begins
Falls on Feb 19
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🎉
Eid al-Fitr
Falls on Mar 20
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🎉
March Equinox
Falls on Mar 20
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🎉
Eid al-Fitr holiday
Falls on Mar 21
Food & drink
Getting around
Buses and shared minibuses link the main towns; the Dead Sea and Desert Highways make Petra, Wadi Rum and Aqaba easy to combine by road.
Travelling around Jordan’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Jordan tighten around major holidays; reserve early for the busiest weeks.
Check opening hours
Museums, banks and government offices usually close on statutory holidays, and often on the nearest Monday.
Carry local currency
Small vendors and rural businesses frequently take cash only, especially on holidays when banks are shut.
Expect crowded transport
Long weekends produce the year's heaviest road, rail and air traffic. Build in extra travel time.
Confirm the official list
Jordan's holiday dates are confirmed by government announcement; check the year page for the final arrangement.
Plan the long weekends
Pairing a holiday with adjacent weekends gives the longest breaks of the year — and the busiest.
Jordan public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Jordan have?
Jordan has 14 public holidays in 2026, counting every date typed National, Substitute or Bank in our calendar. Observances, religious dates and regional holidays are listed separately and left out of the total, because they are not days off across the whole country.
Where can I find the full 2026 list?
The complete 2026 calendar for Jordan is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Jordan's public holidays paid?
Statutory national holidays are generally paid leave for employees. Observances and commemorative days are usually not.
Do holidays move if they fall on a weekend?
Where a holiday falls on a weekend, Jordan typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Jordan?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Jordan?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Jordan
School term dates in Jordan
School calendar data last updated 10 Sep 2026. Dates come from education ministries and local education authorities; always re-check with the school before booking travel.